Second Winner for Fastnet Rock

25th October 2008

Champion sprinter Fastnet Rock posted his second winner at Rosehill on Saturday when the Tim Martin trained colt Zikmann (2c Fastnet Rock x Belle Feline, by Tale of the Cat) turned in a stylish performance to win the 1100 metre open juvenile event.

Fourth on debut to Real Saga in the Listed AJC Breeders Plate run on a rain-affected surface at Randwick on October 4, Zikmann showed the benefit of race experience and a return to firmer footing to score by more than a length this time around.

“He showed a lot in his trials and it came through today. He is a real little professional,” said Melanie Martin, representing her husband Tim.

“He never handled the track at Randwick first-up and should improve with the run.”

Retained to race by his breeders, Zikmann is the first foal of smart metropolitan winning Tale of the Cat mare Belle Feline, whose dam Belle Star is a full sister to dual Kiwi Group One winner Ray’s Hope.

Belle Feline was covered by Fastnet Rock again last spring and produced a full brother to Zikmann on September 22.

Fastnet Rock is a short priced favourite to be leading first season sire in Australia by individual winners with Sportingbet Australia posting him a $1.35 favourite and he already has two winners on the board with Zikmann joining last Saturday’s debut winner San Cristobel.

After covering his first three books of mares at a fee of $55,000, Coolmore based Fastnet Rock has had an increase this year based on the response to his first yearlings (now two year-olds) and stands at $82,500.